At The Hindu Huddle, actors Huma Qureshi and Kritika Kamra outlined a progressive future for Bollywood, emphasizing that female actors are aggressively moving past being just decorative elements in male-centric narratives. They advocated for active pay parity, greater screentime, and authentic, multi-dimensional roles that give women agency to drive the story. Both actors stressed that it is no longer enough to be the glamorous love interest who only exists to support a male hero’s journey. They actively push for scripts where female characters can defend themselves, make consequential decisions, and propel the plot forward.
Qureshi highlighted that independent and mid-budget films are crucial to the ecosystem. Small, women-led projects provide the fertile ground needed for bold storytelling and allow performers to take creative risks that big-budget commercial films often shy away from.
Kamra noted that emerging as a viral social media influencer is not the right pathway to becoming a respected actor. She advised aspiring talent to immerse themselves fully in the actual filmmaking process by assisting directors and regularly attending auditions.
Addressing the persistent gender pay gap, Kamra expressed that true equity will only be achieved when female stars are in a position to demand a share of the film’s profits rather than just seeking equal upfront fees.
News Edit KV Raman
